GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) It isnt often you hear patients describe Physical Therapy as fun, but a new virtual reality program being used by Therapists at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital could change that.<\/p>\n
The Real System uses games to encourage real-life movements. Riley McCartney, OTR\/L says the system does a great job getting patients to do dynamic movements, rather than simply raising arms up and down.<\/p>\n
The patient wears a virtual reality headset and sensors on their upper body. The therapist operates the system through a tablet.<\/p>\n
Stroke patients and others with neurological impairments can use the real system in their recovery sometimes without realizing how hard theyre working.<\/p>\n
Meagan Berquist, OTR\/L says, its really fascinating because we can target challenges weve been working on with patients but in a different way, a virtual way. Patients work on trunk control, arm strength, and functional reaching.<\/p>\n
Mary Free Bed therapists will train on the Real System and begin incorporating into their practice over the next few months.<\/p>\n
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Mary Free Bed uses Virtual Reality in Stroke Recovery - WOODTV.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Continue reading